8.18.23 -PSC approves ‘tweaks’ of Quebec-to-NYC power line
' ALBANY — The Champlain Hudson Power Express, a high-voltage, direct-current power line being built to bring electricity from Quebec to New York City — buried underground and underwater along the way — received permission to make small changes to new sections of the project that will eventually pass through Washington and Saratoga counties.
The project, backed by the investment firm Blackstone Group, closed on financing to start initial construction in November. The following month, Gov. Kathy Hochul presided over a ceremony in Whitehall, Washington County, celebrating the start of construction.
James Denn, a spokesman for the state's Public Service Commission, which approved the project in 2013, said the approvals given were for "tweaks" to small sections of the line.
Once completed, the line will bring up to 1,250 megawatts of electricity to the New York City area — enough power for about 1 million homes. Construction will progress north and south at the same time, venturing through the Capital Region at one point, mostly along railroad beds or underwater.
Unlike traditional high-voltage power lines across the state that use alternating current and hang-on metal towers, direct current, or DC, power lines can be made very small and buried underground, although they can only bring electricity to one destination.
Quebec generates most of its electric supply from large hydroelectric dams, and so the line will greatly help the state meet the requirements of its strict climate change law that requires all electricity generated in the state to be carbon-free by 2040, a major task. Most of New York City's electric supply comes from fossil fuel power plants, so the line's completion is critical to keeping an adequate electric supply running into the city.
On Thursday, the PSC granted new approval for a segment that will run through Kingsbury and the village of Fort Edward in Washington County. Another segment in Saratoga County that runs through Moreau, Milton, Northumberland, Wilton, Greenfield, Ballston, and the city of Saratoga Springs was also approved.